More than a Pub

What is More than a Pub?
This £3.85 million England wide programme is jointly funded by Power to Change and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The programme is being led by Plunkett Foundation and delivered in collaboration with leading organisations within the sector.

More than a Pub aims to increase the number of community-owned pubs open and trading and also to grow the range of services they offer to help the wider community. Services provided by community pubs could include a shop, post office, library, internet café, cash point, police surgeries, lunch clubs for the elderly, prescription services and informal meeting spaces for a range of community activities such as sports teams, choirs, live music and walking groups.

Is it open for applications?More than a Pub is not currently open. Applications will open in the summer of 2019.

Who can apply?Community groups who are considering taking ownership of their local pub, either through purchase or long-term lease. All applicants for loan and grant funding will be expected to demonstrate clear and significant viable benefits to their local community for their plans, as well as some funding already raised within the community.

What can you apply for?

Expert support in areas such as Business Planning, Community Shares, Legal Structures, Social Impact and Finance

Opportunities to attend events, workshops, peer-to-peer study visits

Bursary Grants of up to £2500 for feasibility costs

A combined Loan and Grant Package of up to £100,000 towards capital costs.

More than a Pub Case Studies

Get inspired by these pubs

The Bevendean

The first community owned pub on an estate

Opened in December 2014,‘The Bevy’ is the first community-owned estate pub in the UK. Funded by over 700 shareholders and re-built and decorated by an army of volunteers, The Bevy serves more than pints and hot dinners.Find out more about how the community turned a rough pub with a bad reputation into a community hub or watch the documentary below.

The Angler’s Rest

Saving and reviving the beating heart of the village

When the post office and pub closed down, the community in rural Bamford decided enough was enough. They ran a community share offer and bought the pub. Since then they’ve included a post office, shop and lots of services for the local community.

The Gardeners Rest

A unique and much-loved base for a diverse community of individuals and groups

In July 2016 the owners decided to retire after 18 years of service. With advice from the More than a pub programme, a steering group of interested parties was formed with the intention of taking the Gardeners Rest into community ownership. The group ran a Community Share Offer and received a loan-grant package of £100,000 from ‘More than a Pub’ to purchase the pub. Listen to our More than a Pub podcast episode featuring The Gardeners Rest.

The Duke of Malborough

The Duke of Marlborough is a 500 year-old inn and a Grade II listed historic building located in the attractive Suffolk village of Somersham, Ipswich. In 2014 the pub was threatened with the prospect of being delicensed as the previous owners wanted to sell and retire. The community came together, campaigned and raised funds and two years later, bought the pub.